Cut-out block.



Patented July 23, 190i.

WAWWA/A/MWW r FIG,2.

filmy FIG-3.

H. 0. SWUBUDA. CUT-OUT BLOCK.

(Application filed Jan. 22, 1900.

(No-Model.)

WITNESSES 1 UNTTED STATES HANS OTTO SWOBODA, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

CUT-OUT BLOCK.

SPECIFICATION formingpart Of Letters Patent No. 678,990, dated July 23, 1901. Application filed January 22, 1900. Serial No. 2,273. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern..-

Be it known that I, HANS OTTO SWOBODA, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at New York city, county and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Out-Out Blocks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain novel features of construction which will be set forth in the specification and specifically pointed out in the claims.

The object of my invention is to provide a cut-out block which may be readily secured in position and have the electrical connections thereto completed before the attachment of the covering-plate and which may also, if desired, be so made that the plug can only be introduced in one position, and therefore is adapted for use in charging storage batteries or other uses where it is desired that a definite direction of fiow of introduced electric current may be maintained.

The accompanying drawings will serve to illustrate my invention, and in which similar numerals indicate like parts.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the casing with the attaching and covering plates removed. Fig. 2 is a section on the line X X of Fig. l

with the attaching and covering plates in position. Fig. 3 is a section on the lineY Yof Fig. 1 with the attaching and covering plates in position and the plug introduced.

Referring to the drawings, 5 represents the casing, preferably made of porcelain or other non-conducting material. The casing is fiat on the top 6 and is provided with the lugs 7, in which are the holes 8. the casing is made narrower, both in width and length, than the top. The interior of the casing has two compartments, the larger of which, 10, is at the top and the smaller, 11, at the bottom. At the point of meeting of the two compartments are the horizontal shoulders 12. The sides of the casing are perforated at 13 13 for the introduction of the leading-in wires. Located within the easing are the contact-plates 14. 14. The upper ends of these plates are turned over at right angles and carry the adjustable screws 15 15 for securing the leading-in wires. The contact-plates 14 14 are secured to the cas- The bottom 9 of ing through the screws 16 16% Attached to the bottom of the contact-plate lat in any suitable manner is a spring-plate 17, which is carried upward and has formed in it a longitudinal slot 18.

19 represents the plug, which consists of the handle 20, through which the leading-out wires are carried, and the body portion 21. The body portion 21 is formed of insulating material and has secured to it on opposite sides the contact-plates 22 22. These plates are attached to the body portion 21 through the lugs 23 23, which are bent at right angles and secured by the screws 24 24.

Located at the upper part, but on opposite sides, of the body portion 21 are the plates 25 Y 25. These plates serve to form an attachment for the interior ends of the leading-out wires and one end of the fusible wires 35, the other ends of said wires being connected to the lugs 23 of the contact-plates 22 22. The contact-plate 22 is provided with a longitudinal rib 26, which when the plug is introduced takes in the slot 18 of the spring-plate 17. The object of this arrangement of slot and rib is to prevent the plug from being introduced in but one way, and so prevent changes of polarity of the introduced current. The slot 18 and rib 26 may be omitted, if desired.

Attached to the top of the casing 5 by screws or other suitable means is the attaching-plate 27. This plate carries the screws 28, by means of which the casing and the plate secured thereto may be attached to a wall or floor before the covering-plate 29 is applied. The

covering-plate 29 is connected to the plate 27 by the screws 30.

31 is a pivoted lid of the covering-plate.

I am aware that prior to my invention it has been proposed to provide the casing of an electric cut-out with two flexible contactplates. In practice, however, such a construction has been found objectionable for several reasons. Where the strips are both resilient and project downward from the sup port at the top of the casing, it is found that the elasticity thereof is soon destroyed and perfect contact with the plug rendered im possible. Also when both of the strips are resilient it frequently happens that both are so engaged by the plug when the latter is forced into the casing that the strips are moved downwardly and destroyed.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim--- 1. In an electric cut-out, the combination of a casing having an interior socket which is of greater width at its outer end than at its inner end, and having passages 13 and 18 formed outside of the side walls of the narrower portion and extending into the wider portion of the socket, contact-plates secured within the narrower portion of the socket and each having one end extending into and bent laterally in the wider portion of the socket, said laterally-bent ends extending parallel to the wall of said socket through which the passages 13 and 13 open, binding-screws extending through said bent ends of the contactplates, and a plug adapted to be inserted in the socket and provided with contacts which contact with the contact-plates in the socket when the plug is inserted therein. v

2. A cut-out comprising a casing fitted with contact-plates, one of which is resilient and slotted, and a removable contact-plug having one of the contact-strips thereon provided with a longitudinal rib which takes in the slot of the resilient contact-plate of the casing.

In an electric cut-out, the combination of a casinghaving two contact-plates,and a plug adapted to be inserted in said casing and contact with the contacts therein, said plug having means for engaging with one of said contacts, whereby the plug can only be inserted in the casing when adjusted to a certain position relative thereto.

4. In an electric cut-out, the combination of a casing having two contact-plates therein, and a plug adapted to be inserted in said casing and contact with the plates therein,

the plug having laterally-projecting means adapted to positively engage one of said contactplates, whereby the plug can only beinserted in the casing when properly positioned relative thereto.

5. In an electric out-out,the combination of a socket or casing provided with two interior contact-plates, and a plug adapted to be inserted in the casing and contact with the plates therein, one face of the plug having a longitudinally-extending rib which enters a slot formed in one of the contact-plates, substantially as and for the purpose described.

6. In an electric cut-out,the combination of a socket or casing having two internal contact-plates, one stationary and the other 1novable toward and from the stationary plate, and a plug adapted to be inserted into the casing and be electrically connected with both plates therein and having means for positively engaging the yielding or movable plate whereby the plug is held from rotation in the socket.

7. The combination in a flush receptacle, of a receptacle provided with a chamber which is enlarged at its outer part, contact plates provided with [langes which plates are secured to said chamber, and binding-screws at said flanges whereby the leading in wires have a face connection with said contactplates, and a plug provided with contactplates which are connected with fixture-wires, said plates contacting with the aforesaid plates of the receptacle when the plug is home.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HANS OTTO SW'OBODA.

Witnesses:

W. II. PUMPHREY, ROBERT GERBRACH'I, Jr. 

